KUALA LUMPUR – From being a small unit under the Prime Minister’s Department some five decades ago, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is today the country’s most-feared enforcement agency, having uncovered numerous high-profile graft cases.
Celebrating its 54th anniversary today, MACC is more focused than ever on combating graft in the procurement and enforcement sectors, in line with economic transformation and socio-cultural developments.
“We cannot remain at the old notch. We have gone through the post-Independence era, the era of modernisation, economic development; we have been through the economic financial difficulties of 1999, the country’s recovery, and the change in the political landscape,” said chief commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki in a special media interview held virtually in conjunction with the anniversary, themed “Enliven Integrity, Fight Corruption”.
He said the agency has faced various challenges over the decades.
Grand corruption and syndicated crimes are on the rise, he said, and MACC needs more effective methods to investigate such cases.
“We need to redouble our efforts in intelligence and investigation using more advanced technology, and I will request that the government help us achieve this.”
Commenting on the anniversary celebrations, he said various programmes have been drawn up to promote the spirit of integrity in the community.
“Integrity means trust, responsibility, discipline and good things in human beings. If these things are not there, no matter what we do, efforts to fight corruption will not be effective.
“Among others, we need to have the appropriate laws and regulations to instil integrity in society, and among government officials and MACC officers. Only then can efforts to fight corruption be carried out effectively.” – Bernama, October 1, 2021
